As you may recall, a few months ago I mentioned that we would be heading overseas again later this year. Well, I just can’t keep the secret to myself any longer. We are moving to Riga, Latvia in June! You might be wondering where Latvia is. That’s the first question most people ask when they […]
Expat Life
Becoming a Celebrity in China
What happens when a blonde American with blue eyes and extremely pale skin moves to China? If my experience is any indication, she becomes an instant celebrity! To say that I stood out from the local population is a bit of an understatement. While China has a surprising amount of ethnic diversity, the society is […]
Saddle Up: My Revelations for the Year of the Horse
2014 is the Year of the Horse, under the twelve animal signs of the Chinese zodiac. Were I still in Shanghai, I would see red lanterns and giant horses strung up all over the city in celebration of the auspicious occasion. Last year was the Year of the Snake, supposedly a period of great change […]
Goodbye Shanghai! What I’ll Miss and What I Won’t
Leaving a place you’ve lived is a bittersweet feeling, at least for me. While excited for the adventure that lies ahead, there’s a sentimentality for the experiences and people who shaped my life there. We have just departed Shanghai, after two pretty incredible years. This was my first stab at living abroad and I think it […]
7 Things You Might Not Know About China
Even if you failed world geography class, you know that China is an enormous country, in both land mass and population (1.4 billion and counting). You are probably familiar with the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the country’s cuddliest mascot, the giant panda. You might also have heard that over the course of a […]